UCLA just snagged a national title, and Southern Cal is absolutely charging for one of its own with star Juju Watkins back on the court. Honestly, there’s never been more buzz around women’s basketball in Los Angeles. USC coach Lindsay Gottlieb nailed it at Big Ten media days, telling everyone, “If you intend to come, you should probably get your tickets early.” This isn’t just hype, folks. The success of these two West Coast powerhouses has completely flipped the script for the rest of the Big Ten.
LA’s Dominance Is No Joke For The Big Ten
Think about it: in the two years since USC and UCLA made the jump from the Pac-12 to the Big Ten, these LA schools have owned the league. Each school has topped the standings once, and the Bruins? They’ve crushed it, winning the conference tournament twice. That run even took UCLA to the Final Four two years ago before they clinched that championship last April. Now, UCLA might have some gaps to fill this season, but let’s be real, they’re still pegged as a top-25 caliber team.
On the other side, USC is gearing up for something big. Juju Watkins is making her triumphant return after missing last season with a torn ACL, and she’s not coming back alone. She’s hooking up with the country’s top recruiting class, all aimed at catapulting USC back into the nation’s elite. Their goal is clear: extend that LA rivals’ dominance over their new league. Watkins herself is pumped, saying, “Honestly, for me, I’m just excited to be back and whatever comes with that will come. I know the team is excited. We’re preparing for a great season ahead. I’m ecstatic.” You can feel that energy, right?
Who Can Even Challenge This West Coast Tilt?
So, the burning question for the rest of the conference is whether any of the legacy Big Ten teams can even put up a fight against this newfound West Coast power. Iowa and Michigan look like the strongest contenders to try and break California’s iron grip on the league. But don’t sleep on the depth, because there could be as many as eight other Big Ten teams chilling in the preseason Top 25 poll. Michigan coach Kim Barnes Arico isn’t wrong when she says, “Our league is stronger and tougher than it has ever been. Every night, you’re going to face a top-25 opponent in our league. It’s incredibly, incredibly challenging.”
This isn’t uncharted territory for the Big Ten, though. Maryland jumped from the ACC back in 2014, and the Terrapins snagged at least a share of first place in six of the next seven seasons. Before this latest expansion, it was Ohio State or Indiana topping the standings for three years. But since LA crashed the party? It’s been all UCLA and USC at the top.
The Road Ahead For The LA Powerhouses
UCLA’s got some serious talent to replace, especially after six of the first 18 picks in the WNBA Draft came from their roster. But they’ve got five returnees ready to step up into bigger roles, including sophomore Sienna Betts and junior Timea Gardiner. Gardiner summed up their mindset perfectly: “I think we’re not trying to repeat an outcome, we’re really just trying to repeat a process. Really just giving everything we can to each and every day. We have such an amazing group that is committed to doing that, so we will let the cards fall where they may.” That’s the kind of dedication that wins championships.
Southern Cal, meanwhile, is absolutely stacked. They pulled in the No. 1 and No. 5 recruits in the country, plus a pair of impact transfers, to go along with that Watkins-Jazzy Davidson backcourt. This is huge, especially considering they went 18-14 last season without Watkins, who was the preseason Big Ten player of the year. The Trojans have absolutely loaded up their roster to make a deep run, aiming for their first Final Four in 40 years. Gottlieb played it cool when asked if she built a super team, but she definitely didn’t shut down the idea either.
So, get ready for a season where the Big Ten title might very well run through the City of Angels. The stakes are sky-high, and it’s going to be a battle to see if anyone can slow down these West Coast titans.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Fox Sports.
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